Orpha Woods Foster
Philanthropist in Ventura County, California
About Orpha Woods Foster
Lived 1850 – 1938 (aged 88).
Orpha Woods Foster (April 22, 1850 – September 17, 1938) was an American pioneer and philanthropist of Ventura County, California.
Early life Orpha Woods Foster was born in Avon, Illinois, on April 22, 1850, the daughter of Ira M. Woods (1792-1851) and Orpha Daggett Woods (1810-1875). She donated the park grounds that was to become the Foster Park and Seaside Park to the County of Ventura. With her husband she donated the land for the City Hall and Public Library to the city of Ventura.
With her husband she owned a sheep ranch in the Conejo and in 1877. They moved to Ventura, California, in 1877, and lived in Ventura Avenue. The house burned down in August 2010.
She died on September 17, 1938, and is buried at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura, California.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Orpha Woods Foster's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Orpha Woods Foster?
Philanthropist in Ventura County, California
When was Orpha Woods Foster born?
Orpha Woods Foster was born on 22 April 1850.
When did Orpha Woods Foster die?
Orpha Woods Foster died on 17 September 1938.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Orpha Woods Foster
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Orpha Woods Foster. https://biography.guide/orpha-woods-foster/
MLA: "Orpha Woods Foster." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/orpha-woods-foster/.
Chicago: "Orpha Woods Foster." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/orpha-woods-foster/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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